Freud would not be proud [Closed to Howard and Kais]

[lillylivered]

While he'd wandered the city, Mark hadn't found his apartment or the building he worked at. In fact, he didn't find anything he recognized. But he did find a nice house that was only partly demolished. And inside was nice, comfortable furniture. No black leather couches but that was probably for the best.

Mark quickly moved a chair opposite one of the couches and took a seat. He took out his omnicomm and tried typing a few notes to himself as practice. Then he tried lying down in said couch and looked around. He could see the faded pastel colors of the wallpaper, a nice fireplace on the other side of the room. There weren't any paintings let alone upbeat posters promoting diversity, unity, or asking people to get tested for lycanthropy. Oh well, you couldn't have everything.

Mark got up, sent a message to his first patients letting them know when and where to meet him, and walked outside of the house. He took several deep breaths.

"O.K. Mark, there's no need to worry. You're on a living space ship full of people you've never met. How bad can it be?"

Comments

[lillylivered]

Mark kept his voice soft and understanding- at least that's what he was aiming for. In reality he sounded patronizing. "It's a serious mental illness. Some people with schizophrenia experience delusions and are convinced aliens are inserting thoughts into their brains. Others see or hear things that aren't there. Most have trouble fitting in with society. It's a life long disorder but it can be managed with medication."

[greatergone]

Thankfully, Kais isn't exactly adept with human nuances. "But to you humans, I am considered an 'alien'. Would that not make a difference? It would be natural for me to put thoughts in my own head."

[lillylivered]

"Thaaaat's not what I meant. But you have a point. Is it normal for your kind to hear voices in your head or see odd things?"

[greatergone]

"I have never heard of it happening, no." The selective breeding was supposed to weed out such things.

[lillylivered]

"There, in my experience- and I have treated many people who aren't human- while we may be different physically, psychologically speaking we're all very much the same." Mostly.

"The key is to recognizing that the hallucinations you experience aren't real. And in your case, not killing anyone because of them."

[greatergone]

"And what should I do?"

[lillylivered]

"To be honest, medication is the standard treatment for schizophrenia. I'll have to look up any other treatments and get back to you. In the meantime, let's see if there's something else I can do for you.

"You've been in a lot of battles and I think that's a trigger for a lot of your hallucinations. How have you been dealing with your role as a soldier?"

[greatergone]

"...dealing?" That was a good question. "There is no dealing. Being a soldier is what is required of me and that is what I will do."

[lillylivered]

"You're not in battle all the time. And no one is ever 'just' a soldier. There's more to people than what we do for a living." On second thought that might have been a poor choice of words. Oh well.

"Not to mention that even as a soldier, ignoring your mental well being can get in the way of your duties."

[greatergone]

"I am a member of the Fire Caste. We are born and raised to be warriors. Nothing more, nothing less."

[lillylivered]

"Well, we're no longer on your world. I think it's time you explored other options. You'll never achieve your true potential if you limit yourself." Mark started to get excited at the thought of introducing Kais to everything he was missing.

[greatergone]

Kais shook his head again though this time, with quite a bit of emphasis. "I must do my part for the Greater Good. Doing more is wrong and it is not my place to make such a decision."

[lillylivered]

"Doing more isn't wrong. I mean, you can't train for battle 24/7, right?" He laughed.

[greatergone]

"Yes. I can and I must." A harsh welcome to Tau society.

[lillylivered]

"...Ooookay." Mark rubbed the back of his head. "I'll bite. Why?"

[greatergone]

"Fighting and defending is my contribution towards helping all move towards the Greater Good. Other people have other tasks, all of which are just as important, so I must focus on the task I was given."

[lillylivered]

It was like talking to a brick wall.

"Again, we're no longer on your world. The roles have changed. Not to mention if you don't take time to yourself your schizophrenia will only get worse. So I'm going to give you some homework. How do you feel about that?"

[greatergone]

"...I am unsure. If it goes against what the Ethereal's want, I do not know if I can do it."

[lillylivered]

Mark smiled. "What the Ethereals don't know what hurt them. The assignment is to try to find something you enjoy doing. It could be talking to people, playing a musical instrument, reading, riding in a ferris wheel, anything that's not related to war."

[greatergone]

Kais, on the other hand, looked absolutely horrified....as horrified as far as a Tau could be. That kind of talk sent people to re-education programs. And Kais had heard quite a few rumors about those. He gathered up his robes and stood up. "I-I believe I must go. Perhaps next time...."

[lillylivered]

Mark's smile was replaced by a look of confusion. He also stood and held up his hands.

"Did I say something wrong?"

[greatergone]

"That is subversive talk. Very dangerous. I do not wish to go through a re-education program so perhaps later..." Kais seemed pretty insistent.

[lillylivered]

"But- we're not on-" Mark took a deep breath. "O.K. so we'll skip the assignment and clearly I need to do my own homework. Where are you from?"

[greatergone]

"My home planet is called T'au."